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Those who follow Deerfield River westward from the Catamount State Forest to the Mohawk Trail State Forest travel through the hilly terrain of historic Charlemont. There, in 1989, the Berkshire Mountains and other geographical spoils caught the eyes of Bruce Lessels and Karen Blom—a medaling member of the US whitewater team and a public health nutritionist looking to make the outdoors more accessible. They built Zoar Outdoor on the river, establishing an 80-acre facility to be a base for ziplining, rock climbing, camping, and solar-powered lodging. Today, a staff of adventurers keeps that base running. They not only sell an arsenal of outdoor gear and continue those establishing activities, but also lead whitewater rafting and kayaking trips down their home river, slicing through the waves and rearranging a slew of fishes' living rooms along the way.

Get your coffee fix under control at Coffee Roaster Cafe in Metro Center.
Dieters beware — Coffee Roaster Cafe does not offer low-fat cuisine.
Parking by the coffee shop is a breeze, so feel free to bring your own set of wheels.
Your turn to pay the bill? Coffee Roaster Cafe's low prices make it easy to enjoy great food without relying on credit cards.

Sport enthusiasts will have a fantastic time browsing Housatonic River Outfitters in Warren.
Browse the latest variety of activewear at Housatonic River Outfitters and treat yourself to an outfit that suits your personal style.
Step up your hunting game this season with some great new gear from this store.
For a fresh perspective on all things eye-related, head on over to this store.
If your eyesight is far from perfect, consider picking up some contacts at this store.
Protect yourself from UV rays and maintain a sense of clarity with a brand new pair of sunglasses from here.
Step into this store for a fresh pair of glasses and see your look in a whole new way.
Treat yourself to top-notch vision and a sassy new style when you check out the glasses at this store.
If you prefer to commute by car, take advantage of the many parking options in the area.
If you just signed up for a new sports league, you will want to swing by Housatonic River Outfitters in Warren and stock up on sporting goods.

Take some time off to unwind on the water. Your ship awaits a Pass-it-on Sports and Fitness Consignment Store in Southington.
The doors are open for you at this center with their people friendly restaurant and great, home-cooked food.
Parking is plentiful, so visitors can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Crab Apple Whitewater sends adventure seekers on river-bound thrill rides daily from early April through mid-October using inflatable kayaks for Class I–II rapids and larger group rafts for Class II–IV rapids. Crab Apple sits on a reservoir along the Deerfield River; offering summertime stand up paddle board rentals behind their base camp. Crab Apple Whitewater charts routes through the Berkshire Mountains on rivers such as the Deerfield, making use of natural flows and daily dam releases in order to control the challenge for kayakers and rafters of all skill levels. Trips are consistent due to dam control, but vary based on interpretations of fortunes found in the guide’s tea leaves the night before. All adventurers strap on provided helmets and life jackets and attend a safety lecture prior to casting off.

North Ridge Mountain Guides founder Jamie Leahy first fell in love with scaling peaks while tackling the heights of Mount Washington. The AMGA Certified Single-Pitch Instructor has since defied gravity on inclines of ice and rock around the United States and in Ecuador, summiting peaks of more than 19,000 feet to touch the sky and harvest his crops of clouds by following a simple philosophy: climb hard, climb safe. This mantra guides his approach to teaching the ins and outs of belaying and rappelling and steers the expeditions he leads up the less-traveled routes of Mount Monadnock. He also shares the art of ice climbing with pupils during introductory courses that delve into subjects such as crampon placement, swinging an ice axe, and how to read the ice, which often obscures its messages in Wingdings fonts.

Groupon Guide

Whitewater rafting is only possible on a very specific type of river—young, fast, and full of rocks. That rare combination results in the all-natural thrill ride known as rapids. But what happens under the surface of the water that creates such an adventure for a raft or kayak?What Churns a RiverAs long as there’s gravity to pull it, water will flow. And given enough time, that flow will erode everything in its path, forming a big, calm river that moves quietly toward the sea. A younger river, however, lacks that serenity. Only soft rocks break down easily, so the water instead does anything it can to get around the other obstacles, bending around and over the harder rocks that block the way. Particularly in fast, steep streams, these obstacles break up the flow of the water, causing it to fall, splash, and tumble over itself and capture tiny oxygen bubbles that look white as they crest. Functioning like a bunch of small waterfalls, these turbulent pockets result in rapids, the stretches of whitewater that challenge adventurers to navigate their rafts, kayaks, or horses safely through to reach the calmer currents below.Matters of ClassOf course, no two rivers are exactly the same—and even the same river can vary from year to year due to flooding, downed trees, and weather patterns that lead to changes in the water level. What could one year be a trickling stream could the next be a dangerous torrent. To account for the difference from river to river and season to season, rafters have adopted an international scale for classifying rapids: Class I: a wide, clear channel with easily avoidable rocks. Minimal danger. Class II: novice-level rapids that might require occasional maneuvering and basic paddling to handle obstacles. Class III: more irregular waves, a swift current, and tight passages that require complex maneuvering and may call for advance scouting. Class IV: intense but predictable rapids, complete with large drops and stretches of continuous whitewater. Inexperienced paddlers beware. Class V: the toughest of the classified rapids, containing multiple obstacles and demanding fit, experienced paddlers. Class V rapids can be further designated on a multiple-level scale, from 5.1 to 5.9, in which each level is an order of magnitude harder than the last.
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